Review of low T, evaluation, and health benefits of physiologic Testosterone replacement.

low physical activity, high BMI and low libido are independent predictors of low Testosterone.

Again, Testosterone and here Estradiol are merely there for libido and sex.  What tunnel vision?!  What about hsCRP?  What about fibrinogen?  What about IL-1beta?  What about TNF-alpha?  These inflammatory cytokines have all been reported to elevate as a result of estrogen production in men.   And PSA?  No mention of it here.   This linear, tunnel vision thinking on hormones has got to stop! The study points out that all clients were using AIs and SERMs irregardless of whether they had elevated estrogens or not.  That is not a well designed study.  One group should have had AI's if elevated estrogens were present and another group should not--this would compare the effects of aromatase activity.  Second, this was simply a retrospective chart review.  Third, a 50% conversion of 34,000 + men is very high when you look at the literature.  Fourth, they point to gynecomastia as a means of negative?  The cardiovascular implications are more significant.  These studies just seem to focus on superficial things.  Fifth, did libido problems exist before?  What were the free levels?   This falls in the paucity of data (2 studies) that point to excessive lowering of estradiol effecting libido and sexual performance.

When you look at PCOS in women, it is really just the early manifestation of Metabolic Syndrome.  PCOS no longer needs to be viewed through the prism of hormones and/or infertility but the means through which disease will walk.

good review of reishi mushroom benefits.

review of mushrooms in cancer.

Stress decreases the innate immune response.  This is critical in the battle against cancer.  Specifically, low NK activity is found in stress individuals with cancer.

Great review of Toll-like receptors.

Turkey tail mushrooms show positive immune stimulant activity in battle against breast cancer.

Awesome article on progesterone metabolism in breast cancer.  The author, weibe, describes 2 categories of progesterone metabolites in breast tissue: 5alpha-pregnanes and 4-pregnenes.  The author describes 3 primary enzymes that control the balance between these 2 metabolites--5alpha reductase, 3alpha-HSO, and 20alpha-HSO.  The resultant balance of 5alpha-dihydroprogesterone and 3alpha-dihydroprogesterone helps to determine the cancer potential of breast tissue.

Not only was low vitamin D associated with increased diagnosis of prostate cancer at the time of diagnosis, but it was also associated with a higher Gleason grade and stage--aggressiveness.

retrospective study finds low vitamin D at the time of diagnosis and at follow up is associated with shorter survival.

Nice review of elevated liver enzymes.

low free Testosterone levels, not Total, are predictors of reclassification in men with prostate cancer.

This case study reveals the complexity of cancer.  HRT and pregnancy have generally been shown to be protective against the incidence of colorectal cancer in women.  Yet, here colorectal cancer was diagnosed in the postpartum period.  Whether the high estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy played a role here is difficult to determine.

The relationship between ER and PR and colorectal cancer is yet to be determined.  It is not outside the realm of possibility that a standardization of ER/PR in colorectal cancer is unlikely.  Each cancer is unique.  There are probably some generalizations that can be made, but complete generalizations of ER/PR in colorectal cancer in women is unlikely.

Another study points to mifepristone in the benefit of progesterone receptor blockade in late stage cancer.

Interesting presentation of 2 case studies where by mifepristone was used in the treatment of late stage colo-rectal cancer.  The authors even propose a potential mechanism where by inhibition of progesterone signaling resulted in increased NK activity.

This article focus' more on the risks of colorectal cancer in men.  It does perform a mini-review on risks for women.  It appears progesterone is important in prevention of colorectal cancer in women.  Post-menopause, women with HRT have a reduced risk. In contrast, men with androgen deprivation therapy, there is an increase risk of colorectal cancer.

Study finds ER and PR increase along the timeline of tumor initiation.  The authors point to likely association that ER and PR expression is associated with and key to initiating colorectal transformation.  A lot to be determined from this study.  IF this were entirely true, then what to explain the 35% lower colorectal cancer risk in women vs men?  Likely ER and PR pertubance plays a significant role is likely, but the mere expression--yet to be determined.